Vehicle air-conditioner control system

Abstract

A vehicle air-conditioner control system according to the present invention activates an air conditioner in response to a command from an air-conditioner remote controller before a passenger is onboard, controls the air conditioner based on a heat load detected by a heat load detector, controls the air conditioner to be set in a silent mode so as not to make the passenger feel uncomfortable due to an air-conditioning wind when a passenger-proximity determiner determines that the passenger is proximate to the vehicle.

1. A vehicle air-conditioner control system for controlling a temperature of a compartment of a vehicle, comprising:
 an air conditioner configured to adjust the temperature of the compartment; 
 a heat-load detector detecting a heat load imposed on the vehicle; 
 an air-conditioner remote controller configured to remotely control the air conditioner according to a passenger of the vehicle; 
 a passenger-proximity determiner configured to determine whether the passenger is proximate to the vehicle; and 
 an air-conditioner controller configured to control the air conditioner based on the heat load if the air-conditioner remote controller activates the air conditioner before the passenger is onboard, and to control the air conditioner to be set in a silent mode if the passenger-proximity determiner determines that the passenger is proximate to the vehicle. 
 
   
   
     2. The vehicle air-conditioner control system according to  claim 1 , wherein the passenger-proximity determiner determines that the passenger is proximate in one of a case where the passenger opens a door of the vehicle, a case where the door is unlocked, and a case where it is determined by a communication with a remote controller carried by the passenger that the passenger is proximate. 
   
   
     3. The vehicle air-conditioner control system according to  claim 1 , wherein the silent mode set by the air-conditioner controller is to stop or reduce an air- conditioning wind. 
   
   
     4. The vehicle air-conditioner control system according to  claim 1 , wherein the silent mode set by the air-conditioner controller is to zeroes or reduce number of revolutions of a compressor included in the air conditioner. 
   
   
     5. The vehicle air-conditioner control system according to  claim 1 , wherein the air-conditioner remote controller is disposed in one of a cellular phone, a vehicle remote controller, and an apparatus that can transmit and receive signals over the Internet. 
   
   
     6. The vehicle air-conditioner control system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pre-manipulator of the air-conditioner configured to activate the air-conditioner when it is a predetermined time set by the passenger or the predetermined time set by the passenger has passed. 
 
   
   
     7. The vehicle air-conditioner control system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a passenger-boarding determiner configured to determine whether the passenger is onboard, wherein 
 if the passenger-boarding determiner determines that the passenger is onboard, the air-conditioner controller controls the air conditioner to be set in a return mode for returning the air conditioner from the silent mode to an air-conditioned state preset by the passenger. 
 
   
   
     8. The vehicle air-conditioner control system according to  claim 1 , further comprising;
 a power-supply switch configured to open or close a connection to a member that supplies a high voltage in a power supply of the vehicle, wherein 
 if the passenger-proximity determiner determines that the passenger is proximate to the vehicle, the power-supply switch shuts off the connection to the power supply. 
 
   
   
     9. The vehicle air-conditioner control system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a power-supply switch for the air conditioner configured to open or close a connection between a power supply of the vehicle and the air conditioner; and 
 a driving power-supply switch configured to open or close a connection between the power supply of the vehicle and a driving system of the vehicle, wherein 
 if the air-conditioner remote controller activates the air conditioner, only the power-supply switch for the air conditioner is connected. 
 
   
   
     10. The vehicle air-conditioner control system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a vehicle-position measuring unit configured to detect a position of the vehicle; and 
 a passenger-position measuring unit configured to detect a position of the passenger, wherein 
 the air-conditioner controller calculates a distance between the vehicle and the passenger based on detection results of the vehicle-position measuring unit and the passenger- position measuring unit, and controls the air conditioner based on the calculated distance between the vehicle and the passenger and the heat load detected by the heat-load detector.